Friday, October 08, 2004
After running a red traffic light in London, you can be sure of only one thing - the bloke behind you will follow. The decision made by the guy behind him is less certain.
A Shift in Fiscal Philosophy
D Carlyle recently pointed out that the smart man dies in debt. He has to be smart, of course, to predict death accurately. The argument of whether this is true of not is moot, perhaps when you have children as quarelsome as the current Gen X'ers (moi?) you will change your mind.
Years ago, the status quo for everyone from pirates to the bourgeoisie was to leave a legacy. Perhaps the security that the wealth provided during life, and the notion of immortality and fame (however localised) through inheritance or stashed plunderings. Today soceity is shifting, leaving behind these ideas for debt. I am loathe to believe it is a selfish change, as pirates could hardly be heralded as an altruistic class.
So, predicting death. In the past acturists may have turned to the man with the guile - generally a Priest. Of course, the Scientist has displaced the Priest today, with much the same internal social structurings. Scientists have different cults, followers, leaders and sponsors, whose difference in views and opinions are aired in conferences which no doubt resemble the Middle Eastern Synagogues 2000 years ago. But they still can't predict death.
So we are left with the original problem - unsure of when to start turning black to red. Perhaps the Dutch have part of the answer with 50 year mortgages.
- July 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- October 2009
- July 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- December 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004